His own surprise attraction to Amber was nothing more than a physical reminder that he hadn’t gone out on a real date since Wendy’s death. He’d had lunch with a couple of women who friends had set him up with, but nothing had come of that because he just wasn’t ready. One night last spring, he’d gotten talked into a night of drinking with a few teachers from the school; loneliness had pushed him into a hookup with one of them, but they’d both agreed afterward that it had been a mistake and they were better off as friends.
It had seemed then, though, like he was waking up a little, getting ready to date. Over the summer, he’d started noticing pretty women more often and had considered asking out the mother of one of Davey’s friends.
And then the awful incident and its aftermath had happened and he’d died inside again.
“I know you’re going to find someone else sometime,” Georgiana said, reading his mind. “But I hope, for Davey’s sake, it’ll be someone more like Wendy. Someone appropriate.”
I can make my own decisions! But he knew what Davey represented to them: their grandson was all that remained of their beloved daughter. He put an arm around Georgiana’s shoulders. “I’m a long way from that,” he said, “but you can be sure I’ll put Davey first if it ever happens.”
A vision flashed into his mind: Amber encouraging Davey to dig holes wherever he wanted, then gently guiding him to go with Paul and his grandparents. She’d been great with him, today and the other night, as well.
Sarge let out a woof and took a few steps toward the street, and Paul smiled to see a woman walking a big, fluffy poodle mix. Come to think of it, the woman looked something like Amber, and Paul wondered if this was the sister married to Trey, the cop.
The dog spotted Sarge and lunged playfully in their direction, pulling the woman a few feet before she spoke sharply to him and regained control. “Sorry,” she said. “Ziggy is friendly, but he’s a big goof.”
“All dogs are.” Paul moved forward to let Sarge greet Ziggy. “What kind of dog? He looks bigger than a standard poodle.”
“Goldendoodle,” she said. “I’m Erica, and I think you met my husband, Trey, earlier this week. I’d stay and talk, but we’re just taking a quick spin and then I need to get back to my son.” She gave Georgiana a friendly wave and then continued down the street.
Paul wished he could just hang out in the yard without the complication of Davey’s grandparents, especially Georgiana. But when he dutifully turned back to her and realized she looked teary-eyed, he felt ashamed. “Are you okay, Georgiana? What’s wrong?”
“I just hate the thought that you’ll replace Wendy, and Davey will get other grandparents, and we’ll lose him, too.” The words seemed wrenched out of Georgiana, who was normally more rigid than sentimental. “You sold your beautiful house, and I don’t even know where you’re going to end up after your time here.”
“Hey.” He pulled his mother-in-law into a hug, and surprisingly, she let him. He felt her shake with a sob. “Don’t you worry about that. I’m not going to replace Wendy, ever. She’ll always be Davey’s mom, and you’ll always be his grandparents.”
“You say that now, but things change.” She looked up at him, her mascara making black smudges beneath her eyes.
“That can’t change,” he said.
And his own determination to choose the right woman, when he started to date again, grew stronger. Georgiana was right about one thing: Amber Rowe wasn’t the right person, although for different reasons than Georgiana had expressed.
Not only was she colorful and bold, not his type at all, but she was a cancer survivor. That meant she had a good chance of recurrence.
He couldn’t put Davey through that kind of loss again. Better to rein in his attraction now and avoid the whole situation.
That meant he needed to stay far, far away from her.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON, MARY waited anxiously in Goody’s ice cream and sandwich shop. She needed to get her new program up and running, fast.
Imogene hadn’t shown up again for the talk she’d threatened, and Mary hoped she wouldn’t, but life didn’t work like that. You had to prepare for the worst.
Imogene would come back, and she had enough on Mary to get her way. And her way was taking a big chunk of Mary’s money, if the past was any indication.
Before that happened, Mary absolutely had to get this new program for victims of violent crimes underway. And as she’d thought about volunteer work for Paul, the latest resident of the Healing Heroes cottage, her ideas had crystalized. It would be perfect for him, given his background and because he needed something flexible so he could manage care of his son. He didn’t know the ropes or the town, but Amber would help with that.
Amber walked in first, and Mary waved. “I already ordered milkshakes,” she said when Amber approached the table. “Presumptuous of me, I know, but everyone loves Goody’s milkshakes. We can get a late lunch, too, if you’re hungry.”
“I’m not going to turn down a milkshake,” Amber said, hugging her and then picking up one of the cups. “Mmm, chocolate. How are you? You look great.”
“So do you,” Mary said, although that wasn’t strictly true. Amber did look much healthier than when she’d arrived in Pleasant Shores almost two years ago, but she had dark circles under her eyes now, and somehow lacked the spring she usually had in her step. “What’s the latest on your international travels?”
“Postponed,” Amber said, the corners of her mouth turning down. “Medical stuff. Nothing serious, I hope, but I have to stick around.”
“I’m sorry about the travel,” Mary said, and pressed her lips closed so she wouldn’t express her real concern. Cancer had a way of sneaking back
